Alkane Functionalization on a Preparative Scale by Mercury-Photosensitized Cross-Dehydrodimerization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00190a032

Alkanes can be functionalized with high conversions and in high chemical and quantum yields on a multigram scale by mercury-photosensitized reaction between an alkane and alcohols, ethers, or silanes to give homodimers and cross-dehydrodimers.The separation of the product mixtures is often particulary easy because of a great difference in polarity of the homodimers and cross-dimers.It is also possible to bias the product composition when the ratio of the components in the vapor phase is adjusted by altering the liquid composition.This is useful either to maximize chemical yield or to ease separation by favoring the formation of the most easily separated pair of compounds.The mechanistic basis of the reaction is discussed and a number of specific types of syntheses, for example of 2,2-disubstituted carbinols, are described in detail.The selectivity of cross-dimerization is shown to exceed that for homodimerization and reasons are discussed.Relative reactivities of different compounds and classes of compound are MeOH